Sustainable development goals: (SDGs): SDG4, SDG5, SDG13, SDG17
The Research Institute for Climate Change (DRAGON-Mekong) at Can Tho University hosted the opening ceremony of the programme on "Youth Community Resilience to Climate Change in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta (Y-CoRe)" on March 28th, 2023. The programme was carried out within the collaborative framework between the DRAGON-Mekong Institute and partners including British Council in Vietnam, USAID in Vietnam, Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research and British Embassy in Vietnam via the Chevening Alumni Programme Fund managed by the UK's FCDO. The objective of the program is to introduce the Y-CoRe program, discuss solutions to promote youth participation in building a network of young people with knowledge, skills, aspirations, and readiness to contribute to addressing Mekong Delta environmental challenges, in particular, and the region in general.
Collective picture of the meeting
Ms. Donna McGowan, the Country Director of the British Council in Vietnam, along with several other British Council representatives, including Dr. Daniel Smith, Active Citizens Program Trainer and Consultant, and Ms. Charo Lanao, British Council consultant, attended the opening ceremony. Also in attendance were Ms. Tran Thi Hong Gam, Education Program Manager, and Ms. Le Thu Hien, Education Program Project Manager, both from the British Council in Vietnam. On the CTU's side, the attendees included Prof. Dr. Tran Ngoc Hai, Vice Rector; Dr. Phan Kieu Diem, College of Environment and Natural Resources; Dr. Nguyen Anh Minh, School of Social Sciences and Humanities; MSc. Huynh Ngoc Thai Anh, College of Information and Communication Technology, and MSc. Phan Ky Trung, Researcher and Founder of CoRe Vietnam.
Prof. Dr. Tran Ngoc Hai delivered the opening speech of the program
More than 100 students from CTU's colleges and institutes attended the ceremony, showing their interest in joining hands to combat climate change in the VMD. The Y-CoRe program is scheduled to run from November 2022 to September 2023, consisting of three main parts: Capacity Building, Action and Implementation, and Recap, Transferring, Dissemination and Completion. The 5-day training, which starts on March 29, 2023 and runs until April 2, 2023, will enable the students to develop project coordination skills with the guidance of experts from different fields.
Ms. Donna McGowan delivered the opening speech of the program
Dr. Phan Kieu Diem shared the reality of climate change in the VMD
Mr. Daniel Smith and Ms. Charo Lanao shared international experiences in capacity building for young people
Dr. Nguyen Anh Minh shared the issue of Gender in responding to climate change
MSc. Huynh Ngoc Thai Anh communicates climate change
Speaking at the ceremony, the delegate of the organizing committee, Dr. Phan Kieu Diem presented the importance of involving young people in responding to climate change in the country. In addition, the program offers opportunities for young people to support communities in responding to climate change, aligning with the UK's strategy in the region. This highlights the crucial role of the young generation in national and international efforts to address climate change. Notably, the discussion also covered the Y-CoRe program's goals and primary activities in the Mekong Delta.
During the general discussion session, numerous students expressed their keen interest in the Y-CoRe project and opened up about their difficulties in finding opportunities and the obstacles that hinder their participation in climate change response activities. The speakers at the meeting provided answers to all their queries. Following the event, the organizing committee is hopeful that the Y-CoRe program will provide young people in the Mekong Delta with an opportunity to access and develop their own initiatives, thereby enhancing their role in the sustainable development of the Delta, which is greatly impacted by climate change.
Picture of students asking questions in the discussion session
Some pictures at the ceremony:
